How to Protect Your Mobile Device

Protecting your mobile device is more than just safeguarding it from physical theft. It is also guarding your software, accessibility and personal content from being compromised by a third party. Because technology is ever-evolving, it’s important to keep your security tools up-to-date from hackers and thieves. Here are a few ways to safeguard your mobile device for little or no cost.

Install AntiVirus Software

AntiVirus software is one of the most important apps to have on your device. It protects your device from malware that can infiltrate your system and slow it down or gather personal information. Full-scale antivirus apps scan your device for existing threats and protect it from future ones, and remove-only apps get rid of current viruses. The latter is not preventative.

Antivirus Security is a top-rated, free mobile security app that protects Android tablets from spyware, malware, harmful text messages and more. It also locks and wipes your device if it is stolen, and can locate it in case it is lost or stolen.

Dr. Web Anti-Virus Light is another free Android-based security app that offers quick and full file system scanning, as well real-time file scanning with SplDer Guard. The app also detects unknown and new malware, and protects the SD card from becoming infected. The full version is available for about $75 from Google Play.

Download an Internet Security Tool

A great way to keep your device and its information safe is by keeping your Internet security tools up-to-date. This is especially recommended for those who frequently use shared Wi-Fi, want to secure their IP address and protect their browsing in a public hotspot.

Hotspot Shield is a free app available for both Android and Apple devices. It encrypts traffic to protect users from all types of spying while on a shared Wi-Fi. You can also unblock websites typically restricted in a public Wi-Fi location, as well as protect your device from malware threats, phishing sites and apps. Hotspot Shield allows users to have complete control over how your device is used in a public place.

Consider Using a Password Management App

Keep the passwords to all your online accounts in one password manager. These apps allow you to keep your passwords in a safe and secure place, only needing one main or specific password to get into the file.

Keeper Password & Data Vault for iPads, iPhones and iPod Touches helps users organize their passwords and easily sync across all your devices. A 256-bit AES encryption protects data so you can easily and securely share data with others.

LastPass is compatible with both Apple and Android devices and features a one-click login for all your accounts. A user’s information is encrypted locally, so it is always secure. This is a great app to use when importing and exporting personal data.

Back Up Your Information to Cloud Storage

Finally, the last way to protect your computing device is by backing up the data to a cloud server. If your device or its information is lost or stolen, a backup is easily available. There are several free services available, with a limited amount of storage space including Dropbox, iCloud, Skydrive and Google Drive.

Jennifer Thayer is a freelance technology writer from Southern California. She loves using her convertible laptop tablet to write about the latest tech gadgets, apps and news. Follow her on Twitter (@TechyJen) to see what she comes up with next.